“I can’t describe how positive my experience of Link House was.

I had spent five months in and out of acute wards and the two weeks at Link House were two of the most empowering, compassionate and excellent examples of patient led care I’ve ever experienced.

From the moment I arrived I felt listened to, I coproduced all the goals I set, and I chose the activities I engaged in and resources I used. I felt that I was a person and not a patient. Staying at Link house increased my confidence and empowered me to make positive decisions about my recovery. I felt cared for and I felt they really listened to my history and helped me move forward with my life. As an inpatient, I really lost my sense of identity, being sectioned was a chaotic and damaging experience for me. At Link house I was empowered to make my own decisions.

The staff were really passionate about a trauma informed approach, they all had an amazing understanding of the impact of trauma. They used activities and resources that were tailored to my own skills, interests and beliefs.

During the months I was in hospital I was not referred to any external support or told about resources in the community. Whilst staying for two weeks at link house I was assessed and referred for four or five different agencies. Because of this, since returning home I’ve been able to access specialist support in the community that I had never previously heard of. I now have a long-term sexual violence advocate, have been assessed to receive befriending support from a women’s charity, and I’m on the waiting list for talking therapies from a specialist charity.

Link House was such a positive, safe and encouraging environment. The staff were kind and consistent and held professional boundaries, they always told me what could be done and expectations around time scales.

They helped me manage contacting other agencies, contacted my GP to arrange picking up a prescription, they liaised with my care coordinator and my housing officer, they helped me manage difficult family relationships. At times I asked them to follow up on things to find they had already done them. It was such a uniquely positive experience of care in crisis and so much more helpful than a lengthy admission.

I have no doubt that their respectful and empowering approach broke the cycle of admission and stopped me having to go back to hospital again. They empowered me to move on with my recovery and my life. All of the staff treated me with a level of respect and compassion I’ve never before received during a crisis, they were skilled in active listening and were solution focused without being in any way condescending. I really feel like my short stay there had such a huge impact on my life and my recovery.”